System for activation of multiple cards

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment of the invention, a system is provided for activating a plurality of cards. A first card number and a total number of cards can be provided to an activation system to process the activation of the plurality of cards.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/696,014, filed Oct. 28, 2003, the complete disclosure of which isherein incorporated by reference.

The embodiments of this invention relate generally to cards forpurchasing items, such as at point-of-sale devices. In particular, someembodiments of the invention relate to gift cards.

BACKGROUND

One convenience item that is commonly purchased at point-of-sale devicesis the gift card. Gift cards are often displayed at point-of-saledevices such as at supermarket checkout stands or restaurant cashierstands. In the typical setting, a consumer will purchase one or two giftcards at a time. These gift cards are often activated by swiping them atthe checkout stand at which point the card number is referred to acomputer which activates the card's account.

However, there are some purchasers who desire to purchase a largequantity of gift cards at a single time. For example, a corporate entitymay desire to purchase a large number of cards as rewards for itsemployees. Similarly, a consumer may desire to purchase a large numberof gift cards and sell them at a discount to others. Thus, there is aportion of the consuming public that actually purchases a large numberof cards at a single checkout.

As a result of this, it can severely delay the checkout process if thecashier is required to swipe all of the cards being purchased. Forexample, a cashier may have to swipe 100 individual cards which are thenactivated and confirmed. The resulting delay can severely hamper theprogression of consumers through the checkout lines at a store.

Similarly, there is a need for a packaging system that allows apurchaser to conveniently purchase a bulk amount of cards without thenecessity of physically counting the individual cards. Again, sincethese cards are often purchased at the checkout lane, a delay can beincurred if the consumer is required to count out the number of cardsthat he or she desires to purchase.

As a result, there is a need for a more efficient mechanism forpurchasing a large amount of cards. Furthermore, a packaging system thatsolves the problem of the current implementation of selling cards isdesirable.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of activating aplurality of gift cards at a point-of-sale device is provided byproviding a first card number corresponding to a first card in theseries of cards; providing a total number of cards to be activated;activating the card corresponding to the first card number; andactivating the next successive card in the series corresponding to thenext successive card number.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the method ofactivating more than one gift card at a point-of-sale device is providedby receiving a plurality of cards at a point-of-sale device; entering afirst indicator indicative of a first card in the plurality of cards;entering a total number of cards in the plurality of cards; indicatingthe first indicator and the total number of cards to an activationcomputer; receiving confirmation that the plurality of cards have beenapproved for activation.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a method ofvalidating the activation of a plurality of cards is provided byreceiving from a point-of-sale device an indicator indicative of a firstcard in the plurality of cards; receiving an indicator indicative of atotal number of cards in the plurality of cards; determining whether theplurality of cards can be activated; and indicating a validation signalso as to indicate at the point-of-sale device whether the plurality ofcards can be activated.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a packaging system isprovided by providing a plurality of cards having sequential cardnumbers; packaging the plurality of cards in the common package;configuring at least one card number for detection by a bar codescanner; and labeling the package with the total number of cards in thepackage.

Similarly, another method of packaging cards according to one embodimentof the invention is provided by supplying as a package a plurality ofcards, each of the cards having a different respective card number;wherein the card numbers form a sequential order; and providing apackage identifier on the package wherein the package identifiercomprises an indicator indicating one of the plurality of cards and anindicator indicating the total number of cards in the package foractivation.

Further embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art from a consideration of the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whereincertain methods, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture for practicingthe embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart for implementing a method for activatinga plurality of cards according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart demonstrating a method for approvingactivation of a plurality of cards according to one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart demonstrating a method of validatingactivation of a plurality of cards according to one embodiment of theinvention.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate a flowchart 400 for implementing amethod for activating a plurality of cards according to one embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart demonstrating a method for packaging aplurality of cards for activation according to one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart demonstrating a method for labeling apackage of cards according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a system for activating a plurality of cardsaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 7, a system for implementing an embodiment of theinvention can be seen. FIG. 7 illustrates a system 700 which iscomprised of a point-of-sale device 704, a validation computer system712, and an activation computer database 720. The various systems arecoupled by networks 708 and 716 in FIG. 7. However, it should be notedthat a variety of coupling systems could be used to interlink thevarious computer systems for purposes of this embodiment of theinvention.

In FIG. 7, point-of-sale device 704 is coupled with a card validationcomputer 712 across network 708. The card validation computer system 712is similarly coupled via network 716 with card activation computersystem 720. Upon a consumer presenting a large amount of gift cards, forexample, at the point-of-sale device 704, a clerk can scan the firstcard so that a bar code on the card is detected by a bar code reader oralternatively swipe the first card through a magnetic stripe reader ifmagnetic stripe encoding is used. The card number indicated by the barcode or magnetic stripe is subsequently transmitted across network 708to the card validation computer 712. Furthermore, the clerk can enterthe total number of cards to be purchased at the point-of-sale device.Then this number can be transmitted across network 708, as well, to thecard validation system. The card validation system can then determinewhether the card which has been presented will likely be capable ofbeing activated.

The card validation computer system 712 performs the function ofdetermining whether the card which has been presented will be activated.Not all cards that are presented will necessarily be capable of beingactivated. Cards of different type may inadvertently be presented to thecashier for activation where the consumer mistakenly believes they areall of the same type. The validation system is capable of determiningwhether the cards that have been presented are all of the same type andamount. Similarly, some cards may have already been activated by prioraborted purchases or other means. Therefore, the card validationcomputer is capable of detecting whether an error would occur for analready activated card. Thus, the card validation computer system 712operates as a first check to determine whether the cards can all beactivated. The actual activation process is a more time-intensiveprocess. Since a significant number of cards can be involved, it ispreferred to validate the activation of the cards rather than waitingfor all the cards to be activated before signaling back to thepoint-of-sale device. Nevertheless, in some instances, it may be usefulto eliminate the validation act and perform an actual activation beforeresponding to the point of sale (POS).

The card activation computer system 720 provides the actual activationof a card number. Such a card number may appear on a plastic card. Thus,the activation process refers to activating an account referred to bythe card number as opposed to activating an actual card itself, e.g., asmart card. Any type of card can be used to provide the card number atthe point-of-sale device, e.g., plastic card with bar code, magneticstripe card, card with numbers written on the card, smartcard, etc. Itmerely represents the account from which purchase amounts aredecremented.

While the validation computer 712 and activation computer system 720have been described as different computers, alternatively they could beperformed by the same computer system. Similarly, network 708 and 716could be the same network.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a method according to one embodiment of theinvention will be described. FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart 200demonstrating a method for implementing a purchase of a large number ofcards, for example, gift cards at a point-of-sale device. In method 200,a consumer presents a plurality of cards at a point-of-sale device. Theplurality of cards are received by the clerk in block 204. The clerk canthen enter the indicator for the first card which is one of the cards inthe pack of cards presented by the consumer. Thus, a first indicatorindicative of a first card in the plurality of cards is entered in block208. The clerk can enter the first card number by swiping the cardthrough the magnetic stripe reader, keying in the card number into thepoint-of-sale device, scanning a bar code from the card, or othersimilar means. In block 212, the total number of cards is entered.Again, the clerk can hand key in the total number of cards that arepresented. Alternatively, the point-of-sale device can request aconfirmation of the last number in the pack of cards. Thus the clerk caneither swipe or hand key in the number of the last card that makes upthe pack of cards. In this way, a check can be performed that theentered total number of cards is actually correct. This can beaccomplished by simple calculation using the first card number and thelast card number.

In block 216, the first indicator, which has the card number of thefirst card, and the total number of cards in the pack of cards arecommunicated to an activation computer. This can be a directcommunication or performed through the validation system, depending onthe configuration of the system. In block 220, a confirmation istransmitted confirming whether the plurality of cards have been approvedfor activation.

Once a consumer presents a group of cards, there may be a change ofheart in the purchase decision. At that point, the user can indicate thedecision not to purchase the cards to the clerk and the clerk can voidthe transaction. When a void signal is transmitted, the activationprocess can either be aborted or, for a completed activation process,voided. A batch number can be used with the information sent from thepoint-of-sale device to initiate the activation of the cards. Thus, thissame batch number can be used by the point-of-sale device to indicatethe void of the purchase without having to enter every card number. Thebatch number serves as a reference number that voids the activation ofthe associated cards. Consequently, the computer system such as thecomputer system shown in FIG. 7 can utilize the batch number to initiateand void the activation of the cards by associating the batch numberwith the data and acts performed in the validation and activationprocesses. Alternatively, the batch number can originate at the hostwhere it is assigned to a particular purchase of multiple cards. Still,it could be used as described above to void a purchase or to track a setof cards.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the validation process. Namely,flowchart 300 illustrates a method according to one embodiment forvalidating whether a plurality of cards can be activated. In block 304,a signal is received at the validation computer from a point-of-saledevice comprising an indicator which is indicative of a first card inthe pack of multiple cards. In block 308, a second indicator is receivedwhich is indicative of the total number of cards in the pack of cards.This second indicator can be coupled with the indicator for the firstcard so that a single signal is sent to the validation computer. Inblock 312, a determination is made as to whether the pack (or group) ofcards can be activated. Furthermore, in block 316, the result of thevalidation determination can be communicated by a validation signal soas to indicate at the point-of-sale device whether the plurality ofcards in the pack of cards can be activated.

To determine whether the plurality of cards can be activated, a checkcan be made of the card numbers to confirm that all card numbers are ofthe same card type and card amount, for example. Thus, if a userpresents a group of cards that are for different stores, such as Walmartand Starbucks, the validation procedure can note that the cards are ofdifferent types and abort the activation. Similarly, if the first cardis for $50 and some of the remaining cards are for $100, the validationprocess can determine that there is an error and abort the activation ofall the cards. Similarly, if a card has previously been activated, thevalidation process can note that fact and choose whether to activate theremaining cards. One possibility is to abort the entire activationprocess. However, another possibility is to skip that card and continueactivating the remaining cards.

FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart 100 for implementing a method ofactivating a pack of cards, according to one embodiment of theinvention. In block 104, a first card number corresponding to the firstcard in the series of cards is provided. Similarly, in block 108, thetotal number of cards to be activated is provided and illustrated by“N”. In block 112, the first card number corresponding to the first cardis activated by the activation system. Furthermore, in block 116, thenext successive “N−1” cards corresponding to the next successive “N−1”card numbers are activated.

Again, it should be understood that card activation refers to activatingthe ability of the card to be used in a purchase. It does not requirethat the card be a device that can be activated, such as a smart card.For example, the card could merely be a plastic card with a numberwritten on the card, a magnetic stripe card, or a card encoded with abar code. The corresponding account would then be activated to allowpurchases to be attributed to the account when the card is presented atthe time of purchase. Furthermore, a card number is intended to mean theindicator associated with a particular card. Obviously, such anindicator could be comprised of letters or other indications.Preferably, the card number is a numerical indicator or alphabeticalindicator so that successive cards can be easily identified. Of course,a card number might be indicated by bar code, magnetic stripe or thelike for easy detection by automated card reading devices.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, a flowchart 400 illustrating amethod according to one embodiment of the invention for activating aplurality of cards can be seen. Again, in block 404, a clerk receivesfrom a purchaser a plurality of cards for purchase at a point-of-saledevice. The clerk enters into the point-of-sale device the first cardnumber from the plurality of cards as shown in block 408. The clerk canenter the first card number by swiping a first card across a magneticstripe reader, scanning a bar code on the card, hand keying in the firstcard number, or using another automated means of entering this number.Furthermore, the clerk can enter into the point-of-sale device a totalnumber of cards that make up the pack for the plurality of cards asshown in block 412. After completing the data entry of the pack of cardsand any accompanying items, the clerk can request payment and processpayment, as shown in block 416. In FIG. 4A, the point-of-sale devicecommunicates the first card number to a card validation computer.Furthermore, in this example the point-of-sale device indicates thetotal number of cards making up the pack of cards to the card validationcomputer as shown in block 424. The validation computer, according tothis example, determines the card type and activation amount for thefirst card as shown in block 428. In decision block 432, the remainingcards in the pack of cards are tested against the card type. For eachcard, a determination is made as to whether the card type of that cardmatches the card type of the first card. Thus, for example, adetermination can be made as to whether all the cards are for Walmartgift cards. If the card types do not match, the validation computercommunicates a negative signal to the point-of-sale device indicatingcard validation failure which represents the fact that not all the cardscan be activated. If such a signal is sent to the point-of-sale device,the clerk can refund the money of the purchaser or retry with adifferent pack of cards. Similarly, in decision block 436, a second testcan be performed to test whether each card matches the card amount ofthe first card. Again, some cards may be for $50 whereas other cards maybe for $100. Therefore, this test confirms that all cards are for thesame amount and the purchaser similarly paid the correct amount. Again,if the determination is negative, then a negative signal indicating cardvalidation failure can be sent to the point-of-sale device as mentionedearlier . However, if all cards do satisfy the test criteria, then inblock 440, a positive signal can be communicated to the point-of-saledevice indicating that the pack of cards will be activated by theactivation process. In block 448, the validation computer, according tothis example, communicates the first card number to the card activationcomputer. Similarly, in block 452, the validation computer communicatesthe total number of cards making up the plurality of cards to the cardactivation computer. In block 456, the activation system initiates abatch process for activating each individual card by activating the cardcorresponding to the first card number. Then, in block 460, each of theremaining cards in the plurality of cards is individually activated.Thus, by a single message sent by the point-of-sale device, individualactivation of the plurality of cards can take place as opposed to thepoint-of-sale device sending a plurality of activation requests to theactivation system. Therefore, this process facilitates the speed withwhich a consumer can purchase cards and furthermore decreases the numberof signals transmitted to the activation computer system. Thus, theactivation computer system can make use of a batch process to implementthe activation of a plurality of cards. Furthermore, by validating thatthe cards can be activated, the cards can be purchased before theactivation process is completed. To the purchaser, however, it appearsthat the activation occurs in real time—even though the cards have onlybeen validated as activatable. It is noted that the activation processneed not start with the first card number, but flowchart 400 uses thatas a logical example for demonstrating the activation process.

The signal sent from the point-of-sale device to the card validationsystem can be comprised of the first card number, the total number ofcards, or alternatively, the last card number in the pack of cards.Furthermore, a batch number can be generated at the POS device andincluded as part of the activation request.

Alternatively, a batch number could be created at the validationcomputer or even the activation computer. Once assigned to a group ofcards, the batch number can then be used to void the activation requestat a later time in the procedure. Similarly, the batch number can beused for recordkeeping at the validation computer system and theactivation computer system for tracking event records at each of thosesystems. In addition, the batch number can be reported back to the POSdevice so that the POS device can initiate a void procedure if theconsumer decides not to purchase the cards.

The traditional way of selling gift cards in the past has been topresent them at checkout stands hanging individually on display hangers.However, with the commercial success of such cards, consumers are nowmore inclined to purchase the items in bulk. For example, companies nowrecognize the value of rewarding employees, and gift cards are an easyway to reward a significant number of employees while allowing eachemployee to choose how to spend the monetary reward to that person'spreferred taste. Thus, there is now a need to package the cards in sucha way that they can easily be purchased in bulk without the risk offalse activation of individual cards.

One method of doing this is to shrink wrap the cards such that a largesequential number of cards can be packaged together for easy purchase.However, to do so causes the individual card numbers to be obscured suchthat individual card numbers cannot be seen by the clerk or by a barcode scanner. Thus, one method of overcoming this obstacle is shown inFIG. 5. Namely, FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart 500 for implementing amethod of labeling packages for easy entry by a clerk at a point-of-saledevice. In block 504, a plurality of cards are provided havingsequential card numbers. In block 508, the plurality of cards arepackaged into a common package, such as a shrink wrapped package. Inblock 512, the cards are configured within the package so that at leastone card number can be detected such as by a bar code scanner or viewedby a clerk to hand key in the first card number. Furthermore, thepackage is also labeled with a total number of cards within the packageas shown by block 516. Thus, when the package is presented at thecheckout stand, the clerk can scan in the first number and hand key inthe total number of cards. Alternatively, the package could be labeledwith a bar code indicating the total number of cards that is alsoscanned in.

Yet another embodiment of packaging the plurality of cards is shown inFIG. 6 by flowchart 600. In block 604, a plurality of cards are providedas a package. Each card has a respective card number and the cardnumbers form a sequential order. In block 608, a package identifier isprovided on the package. In block 612, an indicator indicating one ofthe numbers of the plurality of cards is provided as part of thepackage. Furthermore, in block 616, an indicator indicating a totalnumber of cards is provided as part of the package. Thus, in thisalternative embodiment, a shrink wrapped group of cards can be labeledwith a single label, for example, which is comprised of a card numberand the total number of cards. Thus, when the bar code reader at thepoint-of-sale device scans the package, it knows not only the cardnumber, but also the total number of cards to be activated. As a result,the algorithm at the validation computer can perform the validationprocess on the cards indicated by that set of numbers. Normally, thiswould involve validating the card identified by the card number andsubsequent cards; but alternative algorithms could be used.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described asmethods or apparatus for implementing the invention, it should beunderstood that the invention can be implemented through code coupled toa computer, e.g., code resident on a computer or accessible by thecomputer. For example, software and databases could be utilized toimplement many of the methods discussed above. Thus, in addition toembodiments where the invention is accomplished by hardware, it is alsonoted that these embodiments can be accomplished through the use of anarticle of manufacture comprised of a computer usable medium having acomputer readable program code embodied therein, which causes theenablement of the functions disclosed in this description. Therefore, itis desired that embodiments of the invention also be consideredprotected by this patent in their program code means as well.

It is also envisioned that embodiments of the invention could beaccomplished as computer signals embodied in a carrier wave, as well assignals (e.g., electrical and optical) propagated through a transmissionmedium. Thus, the various information discussed above could be formattedin a structure, such as a data structure, and transmitted as anelectrical signal through a transmission medium or stored on a computerreadable medium.

It is also noted that many of the structures, materials, and actsrecited herein can be recited as means for performing a function orsteps for performing a function. Therefore, it should be understood thatsuch language is entitled to cover all such structures, materials, oracts disclosed within this specification and their equivalents.

It is thought that the apparatuses and methods of the embodiments of thepresent invention and its attendant advantages will be understood fromthis specification. While the above is a complete description ofspecific embodiments of the invention, the above description should notbe taken as limiting the scope of the invention as defined by theclaims.

1-22. (canceled)
 23. A method of activating a plurality of gift cards ata POS device, said method comprising: providing a plurality of plasticgift cards that each have an account identifier stored thereon, whereinthe plastic gift cards are coupled together in a packaging arrangement;entering an activation from one of the plurality of gift cards into thePOS device; transmitting the activation indicator from the POS device toan activation computer system to activate all of the gift cards in thepackaging arrangement along with a purchase price; receiving aconfirmation at the POS device that all of the gift cards in thepackaging arrangement have been activated.
 24. The method as describedin claim 23, wherein the packaging arrangement comprises shrink wrap.25. The method as described in claim 23, wherein the activationindicator is entered by one of: reading a magnetic stripe on the cardusing a magnetic stripe reader, scanning a bar code on the card, handkeying in the activation indicator in the POS device.
 26. The method asdescribed in claim 23, wherein the activation indicator comprises one ofthe account identifiers.
 27. The method as described in claim 26,wherein the account identifiers comprise card numbers.
 28. A method ofactivating a plurality of gift cards at a POS device, said methodcomprising: providing a packaging arrangement comprising plurality ofplastic gift cards that each have an account identifier stored thereon,wherein the plastic gift cards are coupled together in the packagingarrangement; entering a package identifier from the packagingarrangement into the POS device; transmitting the package identifierfrom the POS device to an activation computer system to activate all ofthe gift cards in the packaging arrangement along with a purchase price;receiving a confirmation at the POS device that all of the gift cards inthe packaging arrangement have been activated.
 29. The method asdescribed in claim 28, wherein the packaging arrangement comprisesshrink wrap.
 30. The method as described in claim 28, wherein thepackage identifier is entered by one of: reading a magnetic stripe onone of the cards using a magnetic stripe reader, scanning a bar code onone of the cards, hand keying in the package identifier in the POSdevice.
 31. The method as described in claim 28, wherein the step ofreceiving confirmation comprises receiving a batch number from theactivation computer system.
 32. The method as described in claim 28,wherein the package identifier comprises an account identifier that isstored on one of the cards.
 33. The method as described in claim 32,wherein the account identifier comprises a card number.
 34. A method ofactivating of a plurality of gift cards, said method comprising:receiving at an activation computer system from a POS device anactivation indicator from a plastic gift card in a plurality ofpackaged, plastic gift cards along with a purchase amount; determiningat the activation computer system whether the plurality of packaged giftcards can be activated at the same time based at least in part on theactivation indicator; communicating from the activation computer systemto the POS device a validation signal so as to indicate at the POSdevice whether the plurality of packaged, plastic gift cards can beactivated.
 35. The method as described in claim 34, and furthercomprising: initiating a batch process at the activation computer systemto activate each of the plurality of cards.
 36. The method as describedin claim 34, wherein the activation indicator comprises an accountindicator stored on one of the cards.
 37. A method of packaging giftcards, said method comprising: providing a plurality of plastic cardshaving sequential card numbers; packaging said plurality of cards in acommon package, wherein the cards are packaged such that one of the cardnumbers is electronically readable in order to activate all of the cardsin the package at the same time using only the card number.